Mistake
colossal, grievous
blunder, trip, tumble
assumption, error, chance, risk
venture, strive, try
rare, golden
opportunity
As a class, read the poem aloud a few times or listen to the poem read aloud.
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Illustration by Alex Nabaum
“Mistake” by Linda Mitchell, first published in IMPERFECT: poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers, edited by Tabitha Yeats. © 2018 by Linda Mitchell.
Writing Prompt
Go to Scope Online to learn more about the structure of a diamante poem. Then choose one of the following words: doubt, blame, grudge, uncertainty. (Or pick your own word.) Use that word to write a diamante poem, using “Mistake” as a model.
This poem was originally published in the February 2023 issue.
Multimedia
Audio
(1)
Poem: Mistake
Poem: Mistake
Poem Read-Aloud: “Mistake”
(00:32)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building
1. READING THE POEM
2. ANALYZING THE POEM
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